MAPS to Hold Food and Toy Drive for Cape Verdeans

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- AUGUST 21, 2002 -- In conjunction with United Way Community Care Day, the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) will hold a food and toy drive to benefit low-income families in the Cape Verde Islands through September 12 at the health and social service agency's Dorchester office, One Stoughton Street, Upham's Corner.

The office will accept canned goods and other nonperishable foods as well as toys that are new or like new, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Evening and weekend drop-offs can also be arranged by calling Alcides Semedo at (617) 825-5897. The donations will be sent to Cape Verde in preparation for the Christmas season.

September 12 is National Day in Cape Verde, celebrating the life of the late Cape Verdean independence hero Amilcar Cabral. This year it coincides with Community Care Day, when the United Way of Massachusetts Bay will send teams of volunteers from local businesses to help member agencies like MAPS complete community projects. A team from the Federal Reserve Bank will assist MAPS staff in collecting and organizing the donated toys and food.

About MAPS
MAPS is a private, non-profit organization that works with and for the Brazilian, Cape Verdean, Portuguese and other Portuguese-speaking communities to increase access and remove barriers to health, education and social services through direct services, advocacy, leadership and community development. The organization was founded in 1970 and has offices in Cambridge, Somerville, Dorchester, Allston and Lowell.

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Copyright © 2002 Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers, Inc. All rights reserved.